1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The day began as any school day. But something fell apart in school that day. I am not sure if it was me or the other fellow. I was in trouble. I got into a scuffle with someone. I really don’t remember the conditions that led to the struggle. I just remember learning a life lesson that day from my father.

When I arrived home, Dad took me in his room (which usually was a sign of imminent contact with the rod of correction). I sat down on the bed. He discussed the events of the day. I could sense that this was not going to go well. (He was the pastor of the church’s school I attended.) My frustration was simple: I knew I wasn’t to hit someone, yet I was attacked and needed to defend myself.

After the discussion, Dad then surprised me. He took his Bible and opened to the verse above.

The essence of his conversation was this, “Son, in every situation of life, God makes a way of escape which allows us to bear it. The tests of life come to all people. Yet we have a faithful God. He will not expose you to a situation where there is not a way out.”

Stronger to me that day than the sting of his rod of correction, was the salve of the Word of God. I learned that my feelings of pride and its byproducts, indignation, and injustice, found a self-made route of escape. How could I choose my own way of escape? God had a route out of situation for me, yet I chose my own route.

Do you do the same? Do you choose your own escape when facing conflicts? Occasionally, and shamefully, I still make the wrong choice. It is best when we choose His way. His way is always the Greater Route of Escape.

I read this last year. It really applies. "Remember this, had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there.” C.H. Spurgeon